Abstract: Systems and methods for generating blood flow with a blood pump including a membrane and an encapsulated actuator are described. The pump may be implantable and may include a stator assembly, an electromagnetic assembly supported by the stator assembly, a magnetic assembly, one or more springs attached to the stator and the magnetic assembly, and encapsulation portions that connect the magnetic assembly to the stator assembly. The magnetic assembly may further be coupled to a membrane assembly including a flexible membrane. The electromagnetic assembly may be selectively activated to cause the magnetic assembly to reciprocate, thereby causing the membrane assembly to reciprocate and inducing wavelike undulations in the flexible membrane to pump blood from an inlet to an outlet of the pump. The encapsulation portions may prevent blood from interacting with an interior moving portion of the pump thereby reducing the risk of hemolysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating blood flow with a pump incorporating linear bearing technology are provided. The pump may include an actuator assembly, a moving assembly, and a linear hydrodynamic or thin-film bearing positioned within a housing. The moving assembly may include at least one magnet and the actuator assembly may include a magnetic assembly for selectively generating a magnetic field to cause linear reciprocating movement of the moving assembly with respect to the actuator assembly. The linear hydrodynamic or thin-film bearing may include a bearing portion on the moving assembly that is in fluid communication with a bearing portion on the actuator assembly or pump housing. The system may involve an implantable pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump. The implantable pump may be suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating blood flow with a pump incorporating linear bearing technology are provided. The pump may include an actuator assembly, a moving assembly, and a linear hydrodynamic or thin-film bearing positioned within a housing. The moving assembly may include at least one magnet and the actuator assembly may include a magnetic assembly for selectively generating a magnetic field to cause linear reciprocating movement of the moving assembly with respect to the actuator assembly. The linear hydrodynamic or thin-film bearing may include a bearing portion on the moving assembly that is in fluid communication with a bearing portion on the actuator assembly or pump housing. The system may involve an implantable pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump. The implantable pump may be suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).